This book unpacks the creative jewellery paradigm into its widest context. Five international writers draw a fascinating and comprehensive picture of contemporary jewellery in the twenty-first century. Through a rich palette of themes, works, reports and concepts from current art practices, they illuminate the conditions and interconnections of education, making, presentation, marketing and networking in design and art using the example of the New Zealand Handshake project. This book will enrich and bring pleasure to all who are interested in the visual arts in their broadest sense!

The Handshake project supports emerging New Zealand jewellery artists, allowing them to develop ideas and artworks for a succession of exhibitions with the assistance of a chosen mentor. The Handshake recipients are presented with opportunities to develop work for a number of exciting challenges, including collaborations and national and international exhibitions. The progressive nature of the programme aims to develop independent makers with an innovative and energetic practice.